What is your current fill in your 4cc band?

[Waters 0]

Can someone please describe what is good restriction? Is that the feel of food traveling down into your stomach (not comfortable) or is it the feel of fullness after a few bites? I have 1.25 cc in a 4 cc band and can still eat what I want when I chew well. I have been told to exhibit more control, but if I had that control, I would not have gotten the band....some feedback would be appreciated.

Yes, I too would like to know what good restriction feels like and what is P&B'ing?

[marcyinak 0]

Restriction - for me it's when I feel totally uncomfortable in my chest...almost feels like it's not even in my stomach! I have "tested" my band and I have actually felt that good 'ol full feeling, but I don't feel that often. I have to get used to a whole new "satisfied" feeling! NOTE: grazing doesn't do anything...don't get stuck, but I can eat a lot if I eat this way.

PBing - a Productive Burp...usually, when I get stuck I get all flushed (like a hot flash and I'm only 34) and then end up in the bathroom. I heave a little like I'm going to vomit, but then just burp and out comes some "slime"...lots of saliva. Sometimes, not often, a little food will come up too - very little, but I ALWAYS feel better after this. NOTE: this is not a good thing...it is a sign that you are too full, ate too fast, or didn't chew well. This can also cause band slippage so be careful!

[kedasmom 10]

Hi Everyone, I am at 2.4cc. I have another appointment next week, don't know if I will get a fill or not. Lots of restriction in the morning. small lunch and then at supper I can eat a small meal. If I have had to much at lunch or supper I start coughing and feel like I'm having an asthma attack. The nurse said it's cause I'm full, to cut back. How much do I cut back? It's different everyday. There is no warning.

Bonnie

[Paulax 8]

Well, I am back to say I have not booked a further fill. I only have about 20 to go and think I can do it without more fill.....I'D LIKE MORE FILL, but there ARE times when I feel tight at 3.0, other times I don't feel tight at all. So with the variation I am now getting, I will work harder at the gym and at my food choices.

So in answer to the above question. Feeling full for me, doesn't feel like before banding. It is hard to describe, I have tried to take more notice and can feel what people are talking about when they say a soft or hard stop.

When I am in control, I eat until I am satiated physically. My head wants to eat more but my stomach is comfortable and I have even noticed a hiccup. If I stop there I am good. That for me is a soft stop.

When I am ravenous, or my eyes are bigger than my stomach, or if I don't chew enough, I will get a hard stop. That is when my stomach is full, but the message hasn't reached my brain yet and I will Water at the mouth and need to spit, pb, or whateveryouwanttocallit. I call that a hard stop.

Anyway, cheers to all of us at our various fills. And much continued success......

[ibchelle76 0]

I AHVE 2.7 IN MY 4CC BAND. I WAS AT 1.5 UNTIL 9/6 AND HAD A APPT AND HE ADDED 1.2 AND I FELT OK TILL THIS MORNING TRIED TO EAT WATERY oatmeal AND THOUGHT I WAS DYING AND STARED THROWING UP TILL THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE IN MY STOMACH AND I HAD ONLY EATEN 3 BITES.. SO I CALLED THE DOC AND I GO IN TOMMOROW AM TO GET A LITTLE IT TAKEN OUT. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE:faint:

[Chickie 15]

I have 0.0CC in a 4cc band, at 31 months post op.

[FurEllie 0]

OK, apparently Darlene only put 1.2 in my band 2 weeks ago. Yesterday she added another .2 so NOW my total is 1.4 (which was what I was thinking it already was....). I felt restriction in the office and it showed up during the fluro, but even though it's only been 2 days, I'm back to feeling no restriction again

Hopefully I'll be one of those that "tightens up after a week or so" or Darlene's going to be able to buy a boat and name it after me!!

[Angels 0]

I am also at 2.75 from 2.5 back in May and the restriction is unbelievable. I really can't eat much of anything. I drink V-8 drinks for Breakfast and lots of Water. Tried eating a piece of fish last night and it all came up. Tried today eating some crab Soup and it all came up.

[Tracie 0]

Banded 6/28 and 1st fill she said she put 4cc but went back today 6 wks later and she said it was almost empty and added another 4cc but not saline, she said it was something thicker to have better restriction. Has anyone heard of this other solution? and why are they starting my fills at 4 cc when by reading this everyone else starts at about 1 cc? Just curious.... I have drank some Water and ate a little yogurt so far but not hungry.

[momlambert 77]

Banded 6/28 and 1st fill she said she put 4cc but went back today 6 wks later and she said it was almost empty and added another 4cc but not saline, she said it was something thicker to have better restriction. Has anyone heard of this other solution? and why are they starting my fills at 4 cc when by reading this everyone else starts at about 1 cc? Just curious.... I have drank some Water and ate a little yogurt so far but not hungry.

Tracie, it sounds like you probably have the larger (10cc?) band. Those of us that start around 1 cc have the 4 cc band. I have heard about a substance that they sometimes add to stop or repair a leak in the tubing--I don't know if it's the same thing you are talking about. Good luck with your fill! I think mine is finally kicking in (I have 3.3 cc in a 4 cc band). I'm learning to live with it and figure out what I can eat and what restriction feels like before I start sliming. Maybe I'm a slow learner!

[BlooEyez 13]

I received 1.8cc at my first fill this past weekend ... feeling great restriction as I've lost 5 lbs since then :biggrin1:

[marcyinak 0]

Hey, on another thread, someone posted a link to an "Adjustments" page...thought it was VERY helpful so I'll post it here, sorry it's so long.

How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted

You are losing 1-2 pounds per week.

If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week:

A. You may need an eating adjustment

1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day

2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber

3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories

a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome”

b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram

(1) It’s also a stomach irritant

c. fruit juice is just sugar Water

4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of

foods?

a. Are you avoiding soft foods

b. You can’t just eat what’s easy

c. cheese is glorified fat

5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of Water a day between meals

6. Are you eating too much junk

a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly

processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a

healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you

feel deprived.

b. Stay out of fast food places

7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily

8. Do you always eat the Protein first

9. Then the vegetables or fruits

a. Five servings a day

b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable

10. Is your portion size appropriate?

a. meat or fish

(1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards

b. Vegetables

(1) ½ cup – the size of your fist

c. Starch

(1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need

much

(2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta

11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners

a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the

appetite

b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar

c. They teach you to like things too sweet

d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner

than people who don’t

12. Avoid most diet foods

a. Real food usually tastes better

b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes

c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not

that great

(1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet

margarine

(2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats

a. They may go into permanent storage

b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove

hydrolyzed fats from the body

B. You may need a behavior adjustment

1. Are you eating only when you are hungry?

a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait.

2. Are you eating three meals a day?

a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks

3. Are you sitting down to eat?

4. Are you eating consciously?

a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper

away, pay attention to your food and your companions

5. Are you eating slowly?

a. Put the fork down between bites

b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal

c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying

6. Are you taking small bites?

a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork

7. Are you chewing well?

8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals?

a. Practice water loading between meals

b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal

9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness?

a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough

b. Hard stop versus soft stop

10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing.

11. Do not eat when you are not hungry

C. You may need an activity adjustment

1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3

times a week?

a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day

b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week?

c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes?

2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your

physical activity?

a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators

b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding

c. Parking your car further away from the entrance

d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through

e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination

f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash

g. Playing with your kids

D. You may need an attitude adjustment

1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey?

2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are

eating and exercising?

a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days

3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional

issues?

a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your

eating?

b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those

emotions?

c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor?

4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings?

5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends?

6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically?

7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss

journey?

8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating?

a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts

(1) Obsess about something else

b. Perfectionism

(1) All or none, black and white thinking

c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss

9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards?

10. Have you learned how to take a compliment?

11. Are you giving up diet mentality?

a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day

b. Stop dieting

c. Stop depriving yourself

d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad”

e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food

12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place?

E. You may need a band adjustment

1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate

portion sizes but getting hungry between meals?

2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large

portions.

3. You are having to struggle to lose

4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and

having a good mind set.

F. You may need your band loosened

1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down

2. You are vomiting too much

a. How much is too much?

3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night?

a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating

b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime

c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime

d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux:

(1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods

(2) Chocolate

(3) Caffeine

(4) Alcohol

(5) Some fruits and vegetables

a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers

(6) Peppermint

a. Baking soda toothpaste

(7) Carbonated drinks

e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals

f. If you smoke, quit smoking

g. Reduce stress

h. Exercise promotes digestion

i. Raise the head of your bed

j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist

k. Stress increases reflux

l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning

m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime

(1) Tylenol is OK

n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring

o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications

p. See your health care provider

4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if

a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest,

especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is

accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast

heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack.

b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise.

c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you

also have nausea or fever

d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee

grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar

in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention.

(Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your

stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.)

e. If your pain is severe

This was written by

Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

[kedasmom 10]

Hi Everyone, I went for another fill. .2 was added to my 2.4. The doctor left it up to me if I wanted more, so I took it. I'm fine today, plenty of restriction. This has been slow, I'm at a 29lb lose. I was banded in Feb. 07. But until this summer I really felt no restriction, and there was no pre-surgery dieting. He reminded me that this is a 3 to 5 year plan, WHAT?:faint:What happen to 2 year plan? He said thats just on paper, slow and steady is healthier. I could be dead in 5 years. I want to see a size 12/14 in this lifetime.

[Chickie 15]

Hi Everyone, I went for another fill. .2 was added to my 2.4. The doctor left it up to me if I wanted more, so I took it. I'm fine today, plenty of restriction. This has been slow, I'm at a 29lb lose. I was banded in Feb. 07. But until this summer I really felt no restriction, and there was no pre-surgery dieting. He reminded me that this is a 3 to 5 year plan, WHAT?:faint:What happen to 2 year plan? He said thats just on paper, slow and steady is healthier. I could be dead in 5 years. I want to see a size 12/14 in this lifetime.

It takes about 5 years for most people to lose all they weight they are going to lose. Most studies show that the average bandster is still losing something at 3 to 5 years post op. I think it is just that most people hope to lose their excess weight in 2 years.

[carol1951 0]

I went an another fill on Tuesday, so will see if I get restriction now. I have 3.5 cc in my 4cc band. I really hope the .5cc we put in is not to much. I really want to start losing at least 1 lb a week. I only lose 3 lbs last month and 1 lb the month before for a total of 4 lbs in one month. At this rate it will take me 5 years to lose all my weight, but still I have lost. I'm not perfect on this journey either so I glad that I got my band.